Most of the Columbus People Trail in Lincoln Park will be closed through the summer as workers prepare to assemble the historic Newbern Bridge over Haw Creek.
A five-block section of the trail south of 25th Street was closed Monday to walkers, runners and bicyclists, said Casey Ritz, Columbus Parks and Recreation Department director of park operations.
Although crews already have begun installing rock on the east side of Haw Creek to guard against erosion, they had to wait until after a weekend trail event to begin work on the west side, Ritz said.
Once the rock is in place on both sides of the river, the next step will be to drive piles into the soil a few blocks south of 25th Street to provide foundation support, Ritz said.
In early 2015, the bridge was removed from along County Road 850E in Newbern and replaced with a new one that was completed last year.
The 106-year old structure was disassembled before all parts were moved into a fenced storage area in Lincoln Park.
With 80 percent of the project federally financed, the $800,000-plus trail extension is expected to open in late September or October, Ritz said.
